History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c84.s5.t1.18

v5.c84.s5.t1.18

On 20th January 1696, the Emperor received complaints from the peasants of Kashmir to the effect that the high grandees who had been granted jagirs in that province had farmed their revenue collection to traders, who were making oppressive exactions and had thus ruined the cultivators. Aurangzib immediately ordered all the jagirs in Kashmir to be resumed and made Crownland. At this the traders pleaded that they had advanced heavy loans to the nobles and they would not get back a penny out of them if the jagirs were resumed. The Emperor angrily replied, "Ask your money back from those to whom you have lent it." [*Akhbarat.*]